ILLINOIS MOTOR
VEHICLE THEFT
PREVENTION &
INSURANCE
VERIFICATION
COUNCIL
A private and public partnership effectively combating motor vehicle theft and related crimes in Illinois since 1991.
2019 Annual Report
Secretary of State Jesse White
In Memory of Jerry Brady 1949-2019
Rest in Peace
Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention and Insurance Verification Council
Howlett Building, Room 461 Springfield, Illinois 62756
(217) 524-7087 (217) 782-1731 (Fax)
www.cyberdriveillinois.com/MVTPIV/home.html
Honorable Jesse White Illinois Secretary of State
Brendan F. Kelly Director, Illinois State Police
Charlie Beck Interim Superintendent, Chicago Police Department
Honorable Kimberly M. Foxx Cook County State’s Attorney
Honorable Jodi Hoos Peoria County State’s Attorney
Brian B. Fengel Chief, Bartonville Police Department
Larry D. Johnson Farmers Insurance Group
Todd Feltman State Farm Insurance Company
Dana Severinghaus Allstate Insurance Company
Matt Gall COUNTRY Financial Insurance Company
Heather Drake The Auto Club Group
Table of Contents
History of the Council …………………………………………………………………………… 5
MVTPIV Council Members ……………………………………………………………………. 6
Grant Review Committee Members ……………………………………………………… 10
MVTPIV Council Staff ……………………………………………………………………………. 10
Statewide Motor Vehicle Theft Trends …………………………………………………. 11
Cook County Motor Vehicle Theft Trends ……………………………………………… 12
Countywide Motor Vehicle Theft Trends ………………………………………………. 13
Overview of Council Programs and Activity
Council Programs 1992-2018 ……………………………………………………. 14
Council Activity 2019 …………………………………………………………………. 15
Council Funded Programs 2019 …………………………………………………. 16
Mandatory Insurance Verification ………………………………………………………… 18
Financial Statement 2019 ……………………………………………………………………… 19
Participating Agencies 2019 ……………………….………………………………………… 21
Council Pictures through the Year ………………………………………………………… 22
Insurance Company Contributors to the Trust Fund …………………………….. 25
Illinois Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention Act (Public Act 100-0373) ………. 28
5
History of the Council
In 1991, the General Assembly established the
Illinois Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention Council,
an 11-member coalition of representatives from
the insurance industry, state’s attorneys and
law enforcement officers, which was overseen
by the Illinois Criminal Justice Information
Authority.
The Illinois Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention Act
requires insurance companies to pay $1 into a
special trust fund for each private passenger
automobile insured for physical damage
coverage in Illinois.
Approximately $6.5 million is collected annually
and distributed by the Council for the purpose
of reducing vehicle theft, motor vehicle theft-
related crimes and insurance fraud in Illinois.
The funds are designated to support law
enforcement programs that increase
investigation and prosecution of vehicle theft-
related crimes.
Between 1991 and 2014, the annual number of
motor vehicle theft offenses in Illinois dropped
70 percent from 75,214 to 22,854.
In March 2015, the Governor issued Illinois
Executive Order 8, which suspended state
grants for that fiscal year and led to the
suspension of grant contracts issued by the
Council.
The ensuing state budget impasse, which lasted
through August 2017, did not provide an
appropriation for the Council to use monies
deposited into the trust fund.
In 2017, the General Assembly passed House
Bill 2610 (Senator Munoz/Representative
D’Amico), which was signed into law that
August and became Public Act 100-0373. The
Public Act restructured the Council, changed
administrative oversight from the Illinois
Criminal Justice Information Authority to the
Illinois Secretary of State’s office, and expanded
the scope of the Council.
Today, the new Illinois Motor Vehicle Theft
Prevention and Insurance Verification Council
remains committed to reducing vehicle theft,
motor vehicle theft-related crimes and
insurance fraud, but may also consider efforts
to deter, investigate and prosecute recyclable
metal theft.
In addition to the prevention of vehicle thefts,
the trust fund supports the Secretary of State
Mandatory Insurance Verification Program,
which electronically verifies the status of motor
vehicle liability insurance policies and prevents
uninsured motorists from renewing their
vehicle registrations.
The 11-member Council appoints a 5-member
Grant Review Committee to review grant
proposals, budgets, and other information that
must be brought before the Council in order to
award grants and carry out their mission.
6
MVTPIV Council Members
The following members serve on the Illinois
Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention and Insurance
Verification Council:
Jesse White Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White was first elected Illinois Secretary of State in 1998 and is the first African-American to lead the office. Secretary White became Illinois’ longest serving Secretary of State, having won 6 consecutive terms since. Secretary White previously served as Cook County Recorder of Deeds from 1992-1998. Before being elected as recorder of deeds, he served in the Illinois General Assembly for 16 years. He also spent 33 years as a teacher and administrator with the Chicago Public School system. Secretary White founded the internationally renowned Jesse White Tumbling Team as a juvenile delinquency prevention program for children residing in Chicago’s inner city housing projects. He continues to coach the team, whose members are required to stay in school, maintain a C average and stay away from gangs and drugs. Secretary White was born in Alton and earned his bachelor’s degree from Alabama State College. He served as a paratrooper in the U.S. Army’s 101st Airborne Division and was a member of the Illinois National Guard and Army Reserve. He lives on Chicago’s Near North Side. Pete Piazza, Director of the Secretary of State Police Department is Secretary White’s designee to the Council.
Honorable Kimberly M. Foxx Cook County State’s Attorney Kimberly M. Foxx was elected Cook County State’s Attorney in 2016 and is the first African-American woman to lead the office. Prior to being elected state’s attorney, Ms. Foxx served as chief of staff for Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle. As President Preckwinkle’s senior advisor and lead strategist, she oversaw a $4 billion annual budget. She also was the lead architect of the county’s criminal justice reform agenda to address racial disparities in the criminal and juvenile justice systems. Her efforts contributed to a significant drop in the Cook County jail population while promoting public safety. A veteran prosecutor, Ms. Foxx served as an assistant state’s attorney in the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office for 12 years and also served as a guardian ad litem in the Cook County Public Guardian’s Office. Ms. Foxx is a board member at Adler University and Free Spirit Media, where she also served as board president. Ms. Foxx is a former board chair of Planned Parenthood of Illinois and a past president of the National Black Prosecutors Association – Chicago Chapter. She is a member of Leadership Greater Chicago and the Chicago Council of Lawyers. Born and raised on Chicago’s Near North Side in Cabrini Green, Ms. Foxx earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Southern Illinois University (SIU) and a juris doctorate from the SIU School of Law. David Williams, with the Special Prosecutions Bureau, currently serves as State’s Attorney Foxx’s designee to the Council.
7
Brendan F. Kelly Director, Illinois State Police Brendan Kelly was nominated by Governor JB Pritzker as the Director of the Illinois State Police in January 2019. Kelly is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and Saint Louis University School of Law, served as an officer in the United States Navy, and comes from a family of law enforcement and military service. Kelly served as the elected State's Attorney of St. Clair County from 2010-2019 and previously as an Assistant State's Attorney. As chief prosecutor, Kelly established a violent crimes unit, a special victims unit for victims of sexual assault and domestic violence, and a Children's Justice Division. During his tenure, violent crime was reduced by 41 percent in his jurisdiction. As Director of ISP, Kelly has advocated for more graduating classes of State Police officers, expansion of state police public integrity units and better law enforcement training standards. He has also initiated changes to the firearms background process and enforcement of firearms safety. Kelly has also established separate divisions for the Illinois State Police Academy to improve training and recruitment. Kelly is past-president of the Illinois State's Attorneys Association, served as chairman of the St. Clair County Child Advocacy Center and on the executive committee of Fight Crime: Invest in Kids Illinois. In 2018, Kelly was named State's Attorney of the Year by the Illinois State Crime Commission and has received an Illinois Mothers Against Drunk Driving Hero Award. He was also named Prosecutor of the Year by the Southern Illinois Law Enforcement Commission and Southern Illinois Police Chief's Association. Lieutenant Colonel David Byrd, Assistant Deputy Director for Illinois State Police, is Director Kelly’s designee to the Council.
Charlie Beck Interim Superintendent, Chicago Police Department Charlie Beck was appointed Interim Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department in November 2019. He served 40 years with the Los Angeles Police Department, the last 8 ½ as Chief of Police, where he earned praise for launching crime-fighting strategies that shifted away from strict reliance on aggressive, arrest-driven policing to more engagement with residents on creating safer communities. Sergeant Keith A. Blair, Commanding Officer of the Major Auto Theft Investigative Unit for the Chicago Police Department, serves as designee to the Council. Brian B. Fengel Chief, Bartonville Police Department Brian Fengel has been in law enforcement for 30 years and served as Chief of Police in Bartonville since 1998. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy and a graduate of Northwestern Illinois University Executive Management Program. He previously served as President of the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police Board of Directors. He serves on the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board and the Medal of Valor Selection Board through the U.S. Department of Justice. In 2002 he was assigned as a police officer with the Secret Service at the Olympic Village for the Utah Olympics Public Safety Command. He has served on the Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention Council since 2005.
8
Honorable Jodi Hoos Peoria County State’s Attorney Jodi Hoos was sworn in as the first woman to ever hold the position of Peoria County State’s Attorney on September 1, 2019, after a unanimous appointment vote from the Peoria County Board. Prior to her appointment, Jodi was the Peoria County Resident Circuit Judge for five years. During her time on the bench she handled a variety of civil cases ranging from personal injury to multimillion-dollar medical malpractice claims. Prosecuting was always Jodi’s passion. She first started in the Peoria County State’s Attorney’s office as an Assistant State’s Attorney in 2000. A trial lawyer in its truest sense, Jodi's work involved every criminal courtroom in the Peoria County courthouse. She tried more than 150 jury trials and prosecuted more than 40 Murder cases. When Peoria County provided televised broadcast of its courtrooms for the first time in 2014, Jodi was in the courtroom. Jodi was born and raised in the small farm community of Amherst, Nebraska, population 231. She was a three-sport athlete in high school and went on to play softball at the collegiate level. Jodi was a four-year starter at the University of Nebraska-Kearney. Jodi graduated magna cum laude from the University of Nebraska at Kearney in 1997 with a bachelor's degree in political science. She went to law school at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln and received her juris doctor in 2000.
Larry D. Johnson Farmers Insurance Group Larry D. Johnson is a special investigation unit manager responsible for SIU field operations in four states. He began his insurance career in 1985 as a multi-line claims representative in Springfield. He has held multiple positions in claims including claims investigation specialist, field claims supervisor, auto physical damage claims manager and national quality assurance claims consultant. Mr. Johnson has a bachelor’s degree from Illinois State University and holds the insurance designations of INS, AIC, and SCLA. He is a member of the National Society of Professional Insurance Investigators. Dana Severinghaus Allstate Insurance Company Dana Severinghaus recently joined Allstate as Regional Counsel. In her role, she provides legislative, regulatory and legal counsel to Allstate’s Midwest Region. Prior to joining Allstate, she served as Senior Policy Advisor to the director of the State of Illinois’ shared service agency and Director of Government Relations at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois. Ms. Severinghaus also co-founded Government Navigation Group, a lobbying firm focused on municipal and state issues, and maintained a law practice focused on government affairs and regulatory issues. Ms. Severinghaus received her J.D. from Chicago Kent College of Law and her B.A. from the University of Iowa, where she was a member of the Division I Women’s Rowing Team. Dana is a member of the Association of Corporate Counsel and Chicago Bar Association, and Minnesota Insurance and Financial Services Counsel and serves on the Board of Directors for the Illinois Insurance Association and Wisconsin Insurance Alliance.
9
Matt Gall COUNTRY Financial Insurance Company Matt Gall is the Special Investigation Unit Manager for COUNTRY Financial and is responsible for the SIU operations for all of the states in which COUNTRY Financial operates. He started working in the insurance industry in 1989 as a claims representative in Northern, Illinois and has worked in the special investigations area of insurance since 1994. Mr. Gall holds degrees in Criminal Justice and Business Management. He achieved the designations of Certified Insurance Fraud Investigator (CIFI) through the International Association of Special Investigation Units, Certified Fire Investigator (CFI) through the International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI), and Fraud Claims Law Specialist (FCLS) through the American Education Institute. Mr. Gall is a Firefighter/EMT and he is a member of the National Society of Professional Insurance Investigators. Todd Feltman State Farm Insurance Company Todd Feltman has worked at State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company for 27 years. His current responsibilities include countrywide responsibilities for reporting automobile liability insurance to various states as well as overseeing non-voluntary insurance markets. Todd received his B.A. in Business Management from Western Michigan University and is an insurance industry representative for 26 Governing Committees for auto non-voluntary plans across the country. He obtained his Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter and Chartered Financial Consultant designations. He is also a member of the American Association of
Motor Vehicle Administrators, the Insurance Industry Committee on Motor Vehicle Administration, ACORD and X12 organizations.
Heather Drake The Auto Club Group Heather Drake joined the Auto Club Group (ACG) in 1996 and serves as Vice President of Government Relations & Public Relations. Her responsibilities include governmental and regulatory work, in addition to public relations and corporate foundation oversight. She directs these activities for ACG throughout Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Tennessee and Wisconsin. Ms. Drake received her J.D. Cum Laude from the Thomas M. Cooley Law School and earned a B.A. from Michigan State University, College of James Madison. She serves as Chair of the Insurance Alliance of Michigan (IIM), past Chair of IIM’s no-fault subcommittee, Chair of IIM’s Member Relations subcommittee, member of PCI’s Legal and Government Affairs Committee and PCI’s Federal Affairs subcommittee. She is a member of the Wisconsin Insurance Alliance and member and past Chair of the Illinois Insurance Association. Nick Jarmusz, Director of Public Affairs for AAA Chicago, is Ms. Drake’s designee to the Council.
10
Grant Review Committee Members
Pete Piazza, Chairman
Director, Secretary of State Police
Brian Fengel Chief, Bartonville Police Department
Larry Johnson
Farmers Insurance Group
Todd Feltman State Farm Insurance Group
Dana Severinghaus
Allstate Insurance Company
MVTPIV Council Staff
Micah Miller
Program Director
Amy Williams Legal Counsel
Sherry Brticevich
Grant Monitor
William House, MBA Budget Analyst
Dave Fuchs
Program Assistant
11
Statewide Motor Vehicle Theft Trends
The annual number of motor vehicle theft offenses in Illinois has dropped 64%, from 75,214 in 1991 to 26,942 in 2018. Both 2014 and 2015 produced record low levels of motor vehicle theft offenses, having dropped to 22,854 in 2014 and 22,308 in 2015. For the past decade, motor vehicle thefts have been under 40,000 for each consecutive year, which is a greater than 45% reduction since the Council’s inception. While Council supported programming has led to major reductions in motor vehicle theft offenses, it is difficult to not notice the recent trend upward again. 2016 saw a 15% increase in thefts from 22,308 to 25,595. The following year in 2017, there was yet another increase of 8% from 25,595 to 27,549. The long view of Council programming has shown dramatic reductions in motor vehicle theft, despite the periodic increases through the years. However, it is important to note that the most recent increase coincides with a lack of program funding due to Illinois Executive Order 8 and the historic state budget impasse that ensued. Overall motor vehicle theft trends show a steady decline, but the statistics also show a need for continued law enforcement efforts.
Annual Vehicle Theft, NICB Statistics
40,525
33,64135,597 35,233
31,445
26,302
22,854 22,308
25,59527,549 26,942
0
5,000
10,000
15,000
20,000
25,000
30,000
35,000
40,000
45,000
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Illinois Motor Vehicle Thefts 2008-2018
12
Cook County Motor Vehicle Theft Trends
Motor vehicle thefts for Cook County in 2018 were 18,502, which represents 69% of all thefts in Illinois. Since 2008, Cook County has seen a 39% overall reduction in vehicle thefts and it reached an all-time low in 2015, with 15,963 vehicle thefts. While there have been consecutive years of steady progress, these numbers also highlight the need for continued law enforcement efforts. During the years when program funding was suspended, there was a 18% increase to 18,798 in 2016 followed by another increase of 6% to 20,005 in 2017. It is encouraging to see these numbers trend downward again for 2018, but a multi-faceted approach to combating motor vehicle theft that involves coordinated law enforcement efforts, an active community awareness campaign and the resources to bring about successful prosecutions will help to further reduce these numbers. Theft numbers for other years were 16,996 (2014), 20,282 (2013), 24,754 (2012), 28,185 (2011), 27,910 (2010), 25,321 (2009), and 30,383 (2008).
Cook County Vehicle Theft, NICB Statistics
30,383
25,321
27,910 28,185
24,754
20,282
16,99615,963
18,79820,005
18,502
0
5,000
10,000
15,000
20,000
25,000
30,000
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Cook County Motor Vehicle Thefts 2008-2018
13
Countywide Motor Vehicle Theft Trends
The eleven counties that saw the most thefts outside of Cook County in 2018 were Will (632), DuPage (665), Lake (568), St. Clair (606), Winnebago (583), Sangamon (593), Madison (478), Kane (345), Peoria (507), Rock Island (413) and Champaign (153).
County Vehicle Theft 2018, NICB Statistics
County Vehicle Theft 2016-2017, NICB Statistics
632665
568606
583 593
478
345
507
413
153
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
70011 Counties outside of Cook 2018
638 656640
602
494 466
388 391 413
319
199
623582 594
525507
362 371 363293
204 207
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
11 Counties outside of Cook 2016-2017 2017
2016
14
Overview of Council Programs and Activity
Program Activity 1992-2018 A variety of theft prevention efforts have been supported with Council funding since its inception in 1992. Funding emphasis had been placed upon law enforcement programs that enhanced investigation and prosecution of vehicle theft-related crimes. All programs were cooperative partnerships and nearly all involved considerable support from participating agencies. Since 1992, programs funded by the Council expended approximately 133 million dollars. Most funds paid the salaries and benefits of personnel assigned to task forces and special investigative teams in the state. Remaining funds were utilized for equipment, commodities, travel, contractual agreements, and costs not covered by the other categories. Due to the lack of a state budget appropriation, the Council was unable to support programs in Fiscal Year 2016 and Fiscal Year 2017. The budget impasse was not resolved until early Fiscal Year 2018, at which point legislation was passed to change administrative oversight of the Council to the Secretary of State’s Office. For 2018, the Council worked diligently to review, and offer revisions to, the 2019-2022 Statewide Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention Strategy, which is the document that serves as a guide to the Council in order to establish priorities of program funding for a 4-year cycle. An electronic payment system was also developed in order to streamline the collection process for insurance companies who are required to remit annual payments to the Trust Fund.
Funding awarded by program area 1992-2015
Law Enforcement 80%
Infrastructure supporting lawenforcement 14%
Public education and awareness3%
Innovative programs 2%
Evaluation and research 1%
15
Council Activity 2019 The Full Council met 4 times throughout 2019: January 29, February 28, June 28 and November 26. Activity was centered upon development of the grant application process and testing criteria with a goal of initiating program funding by Fiscal Year 2020 (June 30, 2019). The Grant Review Committee met 3 times throughout 2019: April 22, May 28 and October 24. It also was tasked with reviewing grant applications and voting upon suggested program funding for the Full Council to consider. Due to an aggressive Spring schedule, the Council is pleased to report that program funding has been restored. Grant agreements were entered into in the Summer of 2019 with the goal of creating long-lasting partnerships to combat auto theft that will result in reduced criminal activity, safer communities throughout Illinois, and savings to consumers through reduced insurance premiums.
Illinois State Library, November 26, 2019 Back Row (L to R): Micah Miller, Matt Gall, Nick Jarmusz, Todd Feltman, Larry Johnson, Keith Blair, Dave Fuchs. Front Row: Dave Byrd, Pete Piazza, Jodi Hoos, Amy Williams, William House.
16
Council Funded Programs 2019 A variety of theft prevention efforts have been supported with Council funding since its inception in 1992. In 2019, the Council funded 5 programs, including four task forces and one area of specialized law enforcement. There were 41 personnel supported by, or assigned to, Council-funded programs in 2019.
Task Forces Tri-County Auto Theft Task Force Grantee: City of Joliet Amount awarded in 2019 (FY20): $842,500 Known as TCAT, the Tri-County Auto Theft Task Force serves the Joliet metropolitan area including Will, Kankakee and Grundy counties. The task force works with the police departments of Joliet, Romeoville, Kankakee, the sheriff’s offices of Will and Kankakee County and the Will County State’s Attorney’s office. This grant allows the unit to reduce auto theft and fraud related cases in the region, identify and recover stolen vehicles, investigate incidents of insurance and title fraud, and investigate scrap and recycling yards. Chicago Police Department’s Major Auto Theft Investigative Unit Grantee: City of Chicago Amount awarded for 2019: $803,946* The Chicago Police Department’s Major Auto Theft Investigative Unit serves an area of Illinois where approximately 42% of all motor vehicle theft incidents occur. This grant allows them to strengthen the Unit’s personnel, equipment, and communications capability to more effectively address auto theft issues. Dedicated city-wide analysts utilize auto theft data to expand investigations into vehicular hijackings, unregulated tow operators and to assist in successful vehicle recoveries and prosecutions. *The Illinois Office of the Comptroller redirected the FY20 grant award to the city of Chicago’s pension funds. Illinois Statewide Auto Theft Task Force Grantee: Village of Thornton Amount awarded for 2019: $2,753,500 Known as ISATT, the Village of Thornton partners with the Secretary of State Police to combat auto thefts through collaboration with State, County and local law enforcement agencies. The partnership functions throughout the state, but focuses its efforts in the Northeastern Illinois region. Crimes involving auto theft, insurance fraud, rogue towing operators and recyclable metal theft are just some of the capabilities of this unit.
17
Metro East Auto Theft Task Force Grantee: St. Clair Sheriff’s Department Amount awarded for 2019: $1,457,090 Known as MEATTF, The Metro East Auto Theft Task Force combats auto theft that is unique to southern Illinois and the Illinois-Missouri border. The task force is comprised of Investigators from agencies located in St. Clair County and Monroe County and works closely with the police departments of St. Louis and St. Louis County.
Specialized Law Enforcement Bartonville Police Department Grantee: Village of Bartonville Amount awarded for 2019: $50,000 The Bartonville Police Department increased and enhanced the patrol of the corridor of Interstate 474 and U.S. Route 24, which carries a high volume of traffic to and from the City of Peoria and rural Peoria County. This grant allows for the procurement of stationary Automated License Plate Reader equipment (ALPR) in a high-traffic area to assist in reducing criminal activity, which often involves the use of stolen vehicles.
18
Mandatory Insurance Verification
Prior to the Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention Act, Illinois would select a small random sample of eligible registered vehicles each month and send a mailing to the vehicle owners selected, requiring that the owners provide insurance information valid on the date of selection. That information was then verified with the insurance company. The Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention and Insurance Verification Act designated that 75% of each dollar collected the first calendar year and no more than 50% of each dollar collected for every year thereafter be utilized for the creation, implementation and maintenance of an electronic motor vehicle liability insurance policy verification program. Funds have been utilized to create and implement an electronic verification system and programming that will verify the insurance of all registered vehicles (9-10 million vehicles) a minimum of twice per year. The Mandatory Insurance division is currently staffed by 11 employees (10 contractual employees and one manager). Additional staffing will be required as the program begins to increase to the full volume of transactions. In FY20 the Mandatory Insurance division anticipates hiring an additional 27 employees and 10 extra help employees.
19
Financial Statement 2019
Illinois Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention & Insurance Verification Council Trust Fund
Revenues, expenditures and fund balance for Fiscal Year 2019 (July 1, 2018 through June 30, 2019)
REVENUES:
Insurance company payments $6,218,518
Statutory Transfers (IN) $773
Interest income $369,240
TOTAL REVENUES $6,588,531
EXPENDITURES:
Statutory transfers (OUT) $0
Regular Spending * $305,122
Lapse Spending ** $209,334
Grants $0
TOTAL EXPENDITURES $514,457
BALANCE:
FY19 Beginning Balance $16,362,618
FY19 Ending Balance $22,647,920
* Regular spending includes the following administrative expenditures: salaries and insurance verification system ** Madison Mutual overpayment of $149,067 included 2019 insurance payments of $585,990 came in after the end of the fiscal year and will be reflected in the FY20 totals
20
Program Grant Awards
AWARDS: FY 20
Tri-County Auto Theft Task Force $842,500
Chicago Police Department’s Major Auto Theft Investigative Unit $803,946
Illinois Statewide Auto Theft Task Force $2,753,500
Metro East Auto Theft Task Force $1,457,090
Bartonville Police Department $50,000
TOTAL $5,907,036
Program Grant Awards approved in FY19 and will be issued in FY20
Fund Totals for Fiscal Year 2016 to 2018
FY 16 FY 17 FY 18
Insurance company payments $6,267,788 $7,123,924 $6,951,601
Prior year refund $25,801 $108,061 $0
Investment income $15,297 $77,537 $173,288
Subtotal $6,308,886 $7,309,522 $7,124,889
Transfers from fund $10,219 $0 $6,004,803
Administrative expenditures $323,519 $247,320 $57,900
Prior year refund $0 $0 $2160
Subtotal $333,738 $247,320 $6,064,863
Revenue less Expenditures $5,975,148 $7,062,202 $1,060,026
TRUST FUND BALANCE $8,240,390 $15,302,592 $16,362,618
21
Participating Agencies
Tri-County Auto Theft Task Force 3 Joliet Officers
1 Romeoville Officer 1 Kankakee City Officer 2 Kankakee County Deputies 1 Will County Assistant State’s Attorney 1 Clerical
Metro East Auto Theft Task Force 3 St. Clair County Deputies 1 Monroe County Deputy 1 Freeburg Officer 1 Cahokia Officer 1 Millstadt Officer 1 Columbia Officer 1 Caseyville Officer 1 Clerical
Illinois Statewide Auto Theft Task Force 1 Thornton Officer 1 Oakbrook Officer 1 Bolingbrook Officer 1 DuPage County Deputy 1 Will County Deputy 1 Beecher Officer
2 Auditors 1 Clerical
Chicago PD Major Auto Theft Investigative Unit *11 Chicago PD Officers
Bartonville Police Department 2 Bartonville Officers *The Illinois Office of the Comptroller redirected the FY20 grant award to the city of Chicago’s pension funds.
22
Council Pictures through the Year
Illinois State Library, April 11, 2019 – Grant Review Committee
Illinois State Library, May 30, 2019 – Grant Review Committee
23
Illinois State Library, February 28, 2019 – Full Council Meeting
Illinois State Library, June 28, 2019 – Full Council Meeting
24
Investigators from ISATT locating the confidential VIN of a recovered stolen vehicle – October 2019
Stolen vehicle recovery from TCAT – October 2019
25
Thank you to the following companies who contributed to the 2019 Trust Fund!
1st Auto & Casualty Insurance Company
Acuity, A Mutual Insurance Company
Addison Insurance Company
AIG Property Casualty Company
Allmerica Financial Alliance
Allmerica Financial Benefit
Allstate Fire & Casualty Insurance
Allstate Indemnity Company
Allstate Insurance Company
Allstate Property & Casualty Insurance Company
Alpha Property & Casualty Insurance Company
AMCO Insurance Company
American Access Casualty Company
American Bankers Insurance Company of Florida
American Family Insurance Company
American Family Mutual Insurance Company, S.I.
American Freedom Insurance
American Guarantee & Liability Ins. Company
American Heartland Insurance Company
American Modern Home Insurance
American Modern Property & Casualty Ins. Co.
American National General Insurance Company
American National Property & Casualty Company
American Standard Insurance Company
American Zurich Insurance Company
Amica Mutual Insurance Company
Amica Property and Casualty Insurance Company
AmTrust Insurance Company of Kansas, Inc.
Ansur America Insurance Company
Apollo Casualty Company
Auto Club Insurance Association
Automobile Club Interinsurance Exchange
Auto-Owners Insurance Company
AXA Insurance Company
Badger Mutual Insurance Company
Banker Standard Insurance Company
Berkley Insurance Company
Bristol West Insurance Company
California Casualty General Insurance Co. of OR
California Casualty Indemnity Exchange
Capitol Indemnity Corporation
Central Mutual Insurance Company
Charter Indemnity Company
Charter Oak Fire Insurance Company
Chubb Indemnity Insurance Company
Chubb National Insurance Company
Citizens Insurance Company of America
Citizens Insurance Company of Illinois
Columbia Mutual Insurance Company
Cornerstone National Insurance Company
COUNTRY Casualty Insurance Company
COUNTRY Casualty Insurance Company
Crestbrook Insurance Company
Dairyland Insurance Company
Depositors Insurance Company
Direct National Insurance Company
Donegal Mutual Insurance Company
Economy Fire and Casualty Company
Economy Preferred Insurance Company
Economy Premier Assurance Company
Electric Insurance Company
Elephant Insurance Company
Employers Mutual Casualty Company
Encompass Home and Auto Insurance Company
Encompass Insurance Company of America
Encompass Property & Casualty Company
Erie Insurance Company
Erie Insurance Exchange
Essentia Insurance Company
Esurance Insurance Company
Esurance Property & Casualty Insurance Company
Falcon Insurance Company
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Farmers Automobile Insurance Association
Farmers Mutual Hail Insurance Company of Iowa
Federal Insurance Company
Financial Indemnity Company
First Acceptance Insurance Company, Inc.
First Chicago Insurance Company
First Nonprofit Insurance Company
Foremost Insurance Company
Founders Insurance Company
Frankenmuth Mutual Insurance Company
Garrison Property & Casualty Insurance Company
GEICO
GEICO Casualty Company
GEICO General Insurance Company
GEICO Indemnity Company
General Casualty Company of Wisconsin
General Casualty Insurance Company
Goodville Mutual Casualty Company
Grange Indemnity Insurance Company
Grange Mutual Casualty Company
Great Northern Insurance Company
Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance Company
Grinnell Select Insurance Company
Harleysville Lake States Insurance Company
Hartford Accident & Indemnity Company
Hartford Casualty Insurance Company
Hartford Fire Insurance Company
Hartford Insurance Company of Illinois
Hartford Underwriters Insurance Company
Hastings Mutual Insurance Company
Horace Mann Insurance Company
Horace Mann Property & Casualty Insurance Co.
IDS Property Casualty Insurance Company
Illinois Farmers Insurance Company
IMT Insurance Company
Infinity Insurance Company
Insurance Company of the State of Pennsylvania
Integon Casualty Insurance Company
Integon National Insurance Company
Iowa Mutual Insurance Company
Ironshore Indemnity Inc.
Kemper Independence Insurance Company
Liberty Insurance Corporation
Liberty Mutual Fire Insurance Company
Lighthouse Casualty Company
LM General Insurance Company
LM Insurance Corporation
Loya Insurance Company
Madison Mutual Insurance Company
Meemic Insurance Company
Memberselect Insurance Company
Mendakota Casualty Company
Merastar Insurance Company
Mercury Insurance Company of Illinois
Meridian Security Insurance Company
Metropolitan Casualty Insurance Company
Metropolitan Direct Property & Casualty Insurance Co.
Metropolitan General Insurance Company
Metropolitan Group Property & Casualty Insurance Co.
Metropolitan Property and Casualty Insurance Company
MIC General Insurance Corporation
Midvale Indemnity Company
Midwest Family Mutual Insurance Company
Milbank Insurance Company
Milford Casualty Insurance Company
National General Assurance Company
National General Insurance Company
National General Insurance Online, Inc.
Nationwide Agribusiness Insurance Company
Nationwide General Insurance Company
Nationwide Insurance Company of America
Nationwide Mutual Fire Insurance Company
Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company
Omni Indemnity Company
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Owners Insurance Company
Pacific Indemnity Company
Pekin Insurance Company
Permanent General Assurance Corporation
Permanent General Assurance Corp. of Ohio
Pharmacists Mutual Insurance Company
Philadelphia Indemnity Insurance Company
Phoenix Insurance Company
Plaza Insurance Company
Progressive Direct Insurance Company
Progressive Northern Insurance Company
Progressive Universal Insurance Company
Property & Casualty Insurance Co. of Hartford
Regent Insurance Company
Response Insurance Company
Riverport Insurance Company
Rockford Mutual Insurance Company
Root Insurance Company
Safeco Insurance Company of Illinois
Safeway Insurance Company
Secura Insurance, A Mutual Company
Secura Supreme Insurance Company
Security National Insurance Company
Selective Ins. Co of South Carolina
Sentinel Insurance Company, Ltd.
Shelter General Insurance Company
Shelter Mutual Insurance Company
St. Paul Fire and Marine Insurance Company
Standard Fire Insurance Company
Standard Property & Casualty Insurance Company
State Auto Property & Casualty Insurance Co.
State Automobile Mutual Insurance Company
State Farm Fire and Casualty Company
Stillwater Insurance Company
Stillwater Property & Casualty Insurance Company
Stonegate Insurance Company
Teachers Insurance Company
Technology Insurance Company
The Cincinnati Insurance Company
The First Liberty Insurance Corporation
Travelers Casualty Insurance Co. of America
Travelers Commercial Insurance Company
Travelers Home and Marine Insurance Company
Travelers Indemnity Company
Travelers Indemnity Company of America
Travelers Indemnity Company of CT
Travelers Property Casualty Co. of America
Trumbull Insurance Company
Trustgard Insurance Company
Twin City Fire Insurance Company
U.S. Specialty Insurance Company
Unique Insurance Company
United Equitable Insurance Company
United Fire & Casualty Company
United Security Health & Casualty Ins. Company
United Services Automobile Association
Unitrin Auto And Home Insurance Company
Unitrin Direct Insurance Company
Unitrin Direct Property and Casualty Company
Unitrin Preferred Insurance Company
Unitrin Safeguard Insurance Company
USAA Casualty Insurance Company
USAA General Indemnity Company
Victoria Select Insurance Company
Vigilant Insurance Company
Viking Insurance Company of Wisconsin
Wadena Insurance Company
Wesco Insurance Company
West Bend Mutual Insurance Company
Westfield Insurance Company
Westfield National Insurance Company
Yosemite Insurance Company
Young America Insurance Company
Zurich American Insurance Company
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Illinois Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention Act (Public Act 100-0373)
Section 15. The Illinois Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention Act is amended by changing Sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 8.5, and 12 as follows: (20 ILCS 4005/1) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 1301) (Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2020) Sec. 1. This Act shall be known as the Illinois Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention and Insurance Verification Act. (Source: P.A. 86-1408.) (20 ILCS 4005/2) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 1302) (Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2020) Sec. 2. The purpose of this Act is to prevent, combat and reduce motor vehicle theft in Illinois; to improve and support motor vehicle theft law enforcement, prosecution and administration of motor vehicle theft and insurance verification laws by establishing statewide planning capabilities for and coordination of financial resources. (Source: P.A. 86-1408.) (20 ILCS 4005/3) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 1303) (Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2020) Sec. 3. As used in this Act: (a) (Blank). "Authority" means the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority. (b) "Council" means the Illinois Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention and Insurance Verification Council, established within the Authority by this Act. (b-2) "Director" means the Director of the Secretary of State Department of Police. (b-5) "Police" means the Secretary of State Department of Police. (b-7) "Secretary" means the Secretary of State. (c) "Trust Fund" means the Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention and Insurance Verification Trust Fund. (Source: P.A. 86-1408.) (20 ILCS 4005/4) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 1304) (Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2020) Sec. 4. There is hereby created within the Authority an Illinois Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention and Insurance Verification Council, which shall exercise its powers, duties and responsibilities independently of the Authority. There shall be 11 members of the Council consisting of the Secretary of State or his designee, the Director of the Department of State Police, the State's Attorney of Cook County, the Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department, and the following 7 additional members, each of whom shall be appointed by the Secretary of State Governor: a state's attorney of a county other than Cook, a chief executive law enforcement official from a jurisdiction other than the City of Chicago, 5 representatives of insurers authorized to write motor vehicle insurance in this State, all of whom shall be domiciled in this State. The Director Governor from time to time shall be designate the Chairman of the Council from the membership. All members of the Council appointed by the Secretary Governor shall serve at the discretion of the Secretary Governor for a term not to exceed 4 years. The initial appointed members of the Council shall serve from January 1, 1991 until the third Monday in January, 1995 or until their successors are appointed. The Council shall meet at least quarterly. (Source: P.A. 89-277, eff. 8-10-95.) (20 ILCS 4005/6) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 1306) (Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2020) Sec. 6. The Secretary Executive Director of the Authority shall employ, in accordance with the provisions of the Illinois Personnel Code, such administrative, professional, clerical, and other personnel as may be required and may organize such staff as may be appropriate to effectuate the purposes of this Act. (Source: P.A. 86-1408.) (20 ILCS 4005/7) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 1307) (Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2020) Sec. 7. The Council shall have the following powers, duties and responsibilities: (a) To apply for, solicit, receive, establish priorities for, allocate, disburse, contract for, and spend funds that are made available to the Council from any source to effectuate the purposes of this Act. (b) To make grants and to provide financial support for federal and State agencies, units of local government, corporations, and neighborhood, community and business organizations to effectuate the purposes of this Act, to deter and investigate recyclable metal theft, and to law enforcement agencies to assist in the prosecution of recyclable metal theft. (c) To assess the scope of the problem of motor vehicle theft, including particular areas of the State where the problem is greatest and to conduct impact analyses of State and local criminal justice policies, programs, plans and methods for combating the problem. (d) To develop and sponsor the implementation of statewide plans and strategies to combat motor vehicle theft and to improve the administration of the motor vehicle theft laws and provide an effective forum for identification of critical problems associated with motor vehicle theft. (e) To coordinate the development, adoption and implementation of plans and strategies relating to interagency or intergovernmental cooperation with respect to motor vehicle theft law enforcement. (f) To adopt promulgate rules or regulations necessary to ensure that appropriate agencies, units of government, private organizations and combinations thereof are included in the development and implementation of strategies or plans adopted pursuant to this Act and to adopt promulgate rules or regulations as may otherwise be necessary to effectuate the purposes of this Act. (g) To report annually, on or before January 1, 2019 April 1, 1992 to the Governor, General Assembly, and, upon request, to members of the general public on the Council's activities in the preceding year. (h) To exercise any other powers that are reasonable, necessary or convenient to fulfill its responsibilities, to carry out and to effectuate the objectives and purposes of the Council and the provisions of this Act, and to comply with the requirements of applicable federal or State laws, rules, or regulations; provided, however, that these such powers shall not include the power to subpoena or arrest. (i) To provide funding to the Secretary for the creation, implementation, and maintenance of an electronic motor vehicle liability insurance policy verification program. (Source: P.A. 86-1408.) (20 ILCS 4005/8) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 1308) (Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2020) Sec. 8. (a) A special fund is created in the State Treasury known as the Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention and Insurance Verification Trust Fund, which shall be administered by the Secretary Executive Director of the Authority at the direction of the Council. All interest earned from the investment or deposit of monies accumulated in the Trust Fund shall, pursuant to Section 4.1 of the State Finance Act, be deposited in the Trust Fund. (b) Money deposited in this Trust Fund shall not be considered general revenue of the State of Illinois. (c) Money deposited in the Trust Fund shall be used only to enhance efforts to effectuate the purposes of this Act as determined by the Council and shall not be appropriated, loaned or in any manner transferred to the General Revenue Fund of the State of Illinois. (d) Prior to April 1, 1991, and prior to April 1 of each year thereafter, each insurer engaged in writing private passenger motor vehicle insurance coverages which are included in Class 2 and Class 3 of Section 4 of the Illinois Insurance Code, as a condition of its authority to transact business in this State, may collect and shall pay into the Trust Fund an amount equal to $1.00, or a lesser amount determined by the Council, multiplied by the insurer's total earned car years of private passenger motor vehicle insurance policies providing physical damage insurance coverage written in this State during the preceding calendar year. (e) Money in the Trust Fund shall be expended as follows:
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(1) To pay the Secretary's Authority's costs to administer the Council and the Trust Fund, but for this purpose in an amount not to exceed 10% ten percent in any one fiscal year of the amount collected pursuant to paragraph (d) of this Section in that same fiscal year. (2) To achieve the purposes and objectives of this Act, which may include, but not be limited to, the following: (A) To provide financial support to law enforcement and correctional agencies, prosecutors, and the judiciary for programs designed to reduce motor vehicle theft and to improve the administration of motor vehicle theft laws. (B) To provide financial support for federal and State agencies, units of local government, corporations and neighborhood, community or business organizations for programs designed to reduce motor vehicle theft and to improve the administration of motor vehicle theft laws. (C) To provide financial support to conduct programs designed to inform owners of motor vehicles about the financial and social costs of motor vehicle theft and to suggest to those owners methods for preventing motor vehicle theft. (D) To provide financial support for plans, programs and projects designed to achieve the purposes of this Act. (3) To provide funding to the Secretary's Vehicle Services Department for the creation, implementation, and maintenance of an electronic motor vehicle liability insurance policy verification program by allocating no more than 75% of each dollar collected for the first calendar year after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 100th General Assembly and no more than 50% of each dollar collected for every other year after the first calendar year. The Secretary shall distribute the funds to the Vehicle Services Department at the beginning of each calendar year. (f) Insurers contributing to the Trust Fund shall have a property interest in the unexpended money in the Trust Fund, which property interest shall not be retroactively changed or extinguished by the General Assembly. (g) In the event the Trust Fund were to be discontinued or the Council were to be dissolved by act of the General Assembly or by operation of law, then, notwithstanding the provisions of Section 5 of the State Finance Act, any balance remaining therein shall be returned to the insurers writing private passenger motor vehicle insurance in proportion to their financial contributions to the Trust Fund and any assets of the Council shall be liquidated and returned in the same manner after deduction of administrative costs. (Source: P.A. 88-452; 89-277, eff. 8-10-95.) (20 ILCS 4005/8.5) (Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2020) Sec. 8.5. State Police Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention Trust Fund. The State Police Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention Trust Fund is created as a trust fund in the State treasury. The State Treasurer shall be the custodian of the Trust Fund. The Trust Fund is established to receive funds from the Illinois Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention and Insurance Verification Council. All interest earned from the investment or deposit of moneys accumulated in the Trust Fund shall be deposited into the Trust Fund. Moneys in the Trust Fund shall be used by the Department of State Police for motor vehicle theft prevention purposes. (Source: P.A. 97-116, eff. 1-1-12.) (20 ILCS 4005/12) Sec. 12. Repeal. Sections 1 through 9 and Section 11 are repealed January 1, 2025 2020. (Source: P.A. 99-251, eff. 1-1-16.) Section 20. The State Finance Act is amended by changing Sections 5 and 5.295 as follows: (30 ILCS 105/5) (from Ch. 127, par. 141) Sec. 5. Special funds. (a) There are special funds in the State Treasury designated as specified in the Sections which succeed this Section 5 and precede Section 6. (b) Except as provided in the Illinois Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention and Insurance Verification Act, when any special fund in the State Treasury is discontinued by an Act of the General Assembly, any balance remaining therein on the effective date of such Act shall be transferred to the General Revenue Fund, or to such other fund as such Act shall provide. Warrants outstanding against such discontinued fund at the time of the transfer of any such balance therein shall be paid out of the fund to which the transfer was made. (c) When any special fund in the State Treasury has been inactive for 18 months or longer, the fund is automatically terminated by operation of law and the balance remaining in such fund shall be transferred by the Comptroller to the General Revenue Fund. When a special fund has been terminated by operation of law as provided in this Section, the General Assembly shall repeal or amend all Sections of the statutes creating or otherwise referring to that fund. The Comptroller shall be allowed the discretion to maintain or dissolve any federal trust fund which has been inactive for 18 months or longer. (d) (Blank). (e) (Blank). (Source: P.A. 90-372, eff. 7-1-98.) (30 ILCS 105/5.295) (from Ch. 127, par. 141.295) Sec. 5.295. The Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention and Insurance Verification Trust Fund. (Source: P.A. 86-1408; 86-1475.) Section 25. The Illinois Vehicle Code is amended by changing Sections 4-109, 7-604, and 7-607 and by adding Section 7-603.5 as follows: (625 ILCS 5/4-109) Sec. 4-109. Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention Program. The Secretary of State, in conjunction with the Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention and Insurance Verification Council, is hereby authorized to establish and operate a Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention Program as follows: (a) Voluntary program participation. (b) The registered owner of a motor vehicle interested in participating in the program shall sign an informed consent agreement designed by the Secretary of State under subsection (e) of this Section indicating that the motor vehicle registered to him is not normally operated between the hours of 1:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. The form and fee, if any, shall be submitted to the Secretary of State for processing. (c) Upon processing the form, the Secretary of State shall issue to the registered owner a decal. The registered owner shall affix the decal in a conspicuous place on his motor vehicle as prescribed by the Secretary of State. (d) Whenever any law enforcement officer shall see a motor vehicle displaying a decal issued under the provisions of subsection (c) of this Section being operated upon the public highways of this State between the hours of 1:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m., the officer is authorized to stop that motor vehicle and to request the driver to produce a valid driver's license and motor vehicle registration card if required to be carried in the vehicle. Whenever the operator of a motor vehicle displaying a decal is unable to produce the documentation set forth in this Section, the police officer shall investigate further to determine if the person operating the motor vehicle is the registered owner or has the authorization of the owner to operate the vehicle. (e) The Secretary of State, in consultation with the Director of the Department of State Police and Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention and Insurance Verification Council, shall design the manner and form of the informed consent agreement required under subsection (b) of this Section and the decal required under subsection (c) of this Section. (f) The Secretary of State shall provide for the recording of registered owners of motor vehicles who participate in the program. The records shall be available to all law enforcement departments, agencies, and forces. The Secretary of State shall cooperate with and assist all law enforcement officers and other agencies in tracing or examining any questionable motor vehicles in order to determine the ownership of the motor vehicles.
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(g) A fee not to exceed $10 may be charged for the informed consent form and decal provided under this Section. The fee, if any, shall be set by the Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention and Insurance Verification Council and shall be collected by the Secretary of State and deposited into the Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention and Insurance Verification Trust Fund. (h) The Secretary of State, in consultation with the Director of the Department of State Police and the Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention and Insurance Verification Council shall promulgate rules and regulations to effectuate the purposes of this Section. (Source: P.A. 88-128; 88-684, eff. 1-24-95.) (625 ILCS 5/7-603.5 new) Sec. 7-603.5. Electronic verification of a liability insurance policy. (a) The Secretary may implement a program of electronic motor vehicle liability insurance policy verification for motor vehicles subject to Section 7-601 of this Code for the purpose of verifying whether or not the motor vehicle is insured. The development and implementation of the program shall be consistent with the standards and procedures of a nationwide organization whose primary membership consists of individual insurance companies and insurance trade associations. The program shall include, but is not limited to: (1) a requirement that an insurance company authorized to sell motor vehicle liability insurance in this State shall make available, in a format designated by the Secretary that is consistent with a nationwide organization whose primary membership consists of individual insurance companies and insurance trade organizations, to the Secretary for each motor vehicle liability insurance policy issued by the company the following information: (A) the name of the policy holder; (B) the make, model, year, and vehicle identification number of the covered motor vehicle; (C) the policy number; (D) the policy effective date; (E) the insurance company's National Association of Insurance Commissioner's number; and (F) any other information the Secretary deems necessary to match an eligible vehicle with an insurance policy; (2) a method for searching motor vehicle liability insurance policies issued and in effect in this State by using the information under paragraph (1) of this subsection (a); (3) a requirement that at least twice per calendar year, the Secretary shall verify the existence of a liability insurance policy for every registered motor vehicle subject to Section 7-601 of this Code; and if the Secretary is unable to verify the existence of a liability insurance policy, the Secretary shall, by U.S. mail or electronic mail, send the vehicle owner a written notice allowing the vehicle owner 30 calendar days to provide proof of insurance on the date of attempted verification, or to provide proof that the vehicle is no longer operable; (4) a requirement that a vehicle owner who does not provide proof of insurance or proof of an inoperable vehicle under paragraph (3) of this subsection (a) shall be in violation of Section 7-601 of this Code and the Secretary shall suspend the vehicle's registration and the owner shall pay any applicable reinstatement fees and shall provide proof of insurance before the Secretary may reinstate the vehicle's registration under Section 7-606 of this Code; (5) a requirement that if a vehicle owner provides proof of insurance on the date of the attempted verification under paragraph (3) of this subsection (1), the Secretary may verify the vehicle owner's response by furnishing necessary information to the insurance company. Within 7 calendar days of receiving the information, the insurance company shall confirm and notify the Secretary the dates of the motor vehicle's insurance coverage. If the insurance company does not confirm coverage for the date of attempted verification, the Secretary shall suspend the vehicle's registration and the owner of the vehicle shall pay any applicable reinstatement fees and shall provide proof of insurance before the Secretary may reinstate the vehicle's registration under Section 7-606 of this Code; (6) a requirement that the Secretary may consult with members of the insurance industry during the implementation of the program, including, but not limited to, during the drafting process for adopting any rules that may be necessary to implement or manage an electronic motor vehicle liability insurance policy verification program; (7) a requirement that commercial lines of automobile insurance are excluded from the program, but may voluntarily report insurance coverage to the State. (b) In addition to the semi-annual verification of liability insurance under subsection (a) of this Section, the Secretary may select monthly verification for a motor vehicle owned or registered by a person: (1) whose motor vehicle registration during the preceding 4 years has been suspended under Section 7-606 or 7-607 of this Code; (2) who, during the preceding 4 years, has been convicted of violating Section 3-707, 3-708, or 3-710 of this Code while operating a vehicle owned by another person; (3) whose driving privileges have been suspended during the preceding 4 years; (4) who, during the preceding 4 years, acquired ownership of a motor vehicle while the registration of the vehicle under the previous owner was suspended under Section 7-606 or 7-607 of this Code; or (5) who, during the preceding 4 years, has received a disposition of court supervision under subsection (c) of Section 5-6-1 of the Unified Code of Corrections for a violation of Section 3-707, 3-708, or 3-710 of this Code. (c) Nothing in this Section provides the Secretary with regulatory authority over insurance companies. (d) The Secretary may contract with a private contractor to carry out the Secretary's duties under this Section. (e) Any information collected, stored, maintained, or referred to under this Section shall be used solely for the purpose of verifying whether a registered motor vehicle meets the requirements of Section 7-601 of this Code and shall be exempt from a records request or from inspection and copying under the Freedom of Information Act. A request for release of verification of liability insurance policy information from the Secretary shall require a court order, subpoena, or the motor vehicle owner's approval. (f) An insurer identified by an electronic motor vehicle liability insurance policy program as insuring less than 1,000 vehicles per year shall be exempt from the reporting requirements under subsection (a) of this Section. (g) The Secretary may adopt any rules necessary to implement this Section. (625 ILCS 5/7-604) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 7-604) Sec. 7-604. Verification of liability insurance policy. (a) The Secretary of State may select random samples of registrations of motor vehicles subject to Section 7-601 of this Code, or owners thereof, for the purpose of verifying whether or not the motor vehicles are insured. In addition to such general random samples of motor vehicle registrations, the Secretary may select for verification other random samples, including, but not limited to registrations of motor vehicles owned by persons: whose motor vehicle registrations during the preceding 4 years have been suspended pursuant to Section 7-606 or 7-607 of this Code; (2) who during the preceding 4 years have been convicted of violating Section 3-707, 3-708 or 3-710 of this Code while operating vehicles owned by other persons; (3) whose driving privileges have been suspended during the preceding 4 years; (4) who during the preceding 4 years acquired ownership of motor vehicles while the registrations of such vehicles under the previous owners were suspended pursuant to Section 7-606 or 7-607 of this Code; or (5) who during the preceding 4 years have received a disposition of supervision under subsection (c) of Section 5-6-1 of the Unified Code of Corrections for a violation of Section 3-707, 3-708, or 3-710 of this Code.
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(b) Upon receiving certification from the Department of Transportation under Section 7-201.2 of this Code of the name of an owner or operator of any motor vehicle involved in an accident, the Secretary may verify whether or not at the time of the accident such motor vehicle was covered by a liability insurance policy in accordance with Section 7-601 of this Code. (c) In preparation for selection of random samples and their verification, the Secretary may send to owners of randomly selected motor vehicles, or to randomly selected motor vehicle owners, requests for information about their motor vehicles and liability insurance coverage. The request shall require the owner to state whether or not the motor vehicle was insured on the verification date stated in the Secretary's request and the request may require, but is not limited to, a statement by the owner of the names and addresses of insurers, policy numbers, and expiration dates of insurance coverage. (d) Within 30 days after the Secretary mails a request, the owner to whom it is sent shall furnish the requested information to the Secretary above the owner's signed affirmation that such information is true and correct. Proof of insurance in effect on the verification date, as prescribed by the Secretary, may be considered by the Secretary to be a satisfactory response to the request for information. Any owner whose response indicates that his or her vehicle was not covered by a liability insurance policy in accordance with Section 7-601 of this Code shall be deemed to have registered or maintained registration of a motor vehicle in violation of that Section. Any owner who fails to respond to such a request shall be deemed to have registered or maintained registration of a motor vehicle in violation of Section 7-601 of this Code. (e) If the owner responds to the request for information by asserting that his or her vehicle was covered by a liability insurance policy on the verification date stated in the Secretary's request, the Secretary may conduct a verification of the response by furnishing necessary information to the insurer named in the response. The insurer shall within 45 days inform the Secretary whether or not on the verification date stated the motor vehicle was insured by the insurer in accordance with Section 7-601 of this Code. The Secretary may by rule and regulation prescribe the procedures for verification. (f) No random sample selected under this Section shall be categorized on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, economic status or geography. (g) (Blank). (h) This Section shall be inoperative upon of the effective date of the rules adopted by the Secretary to implement Section 7-603.5 of this Code. (Source: P.A. 98-787, eff. 7-25-14; 99-333, eff. 12-30-15 (see Section 15 of P.A. 99-483 for the effective date of changes made by P.A. 99-333); 99-737, eff. 8-5-16.) (625 ILCS 5/7-607) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 7-607) Sec. 7-607. Submission of false proof - penalty. If the Secretary determines that the proof of insurance submitted by a motor vehicle owner under Section 7-603.5, 7-604, 7-605 or 7-606 of this Code is false, the Secretary shall suspend the owner's vehicle registration. The Secretary shall terminate the suspension 6 months after its effective date upon payment by the owner of a reinstatement fee of $200 and submission of proof of insurance as prescribed by the Secretary. All fees collected under this Section shall be disbursed under subsection (g) of Section 2-119 of this Code. (Source: P.A. 99-127, eff. 1-1-16.)